What financial help is available for college students with children?
Care To Learn
The Care to Learn fund is financial help for young mothers under the age of 20. Care to Learn will pay up to £160 per child per week (£175 in London) to cover the cost of:
- childcare while you're learning, on placement linked to your course or programme of study, doing private study or travelling between home and your childcare provider
- any registration fees (up to £80) and any deposit normally charged (up to £250)
- a childcare 'taster' aimed at helping your child settle in before the learning starts
- fees you need to pay during holidays to keep the childcare place open
- additional travel costs you have to pay so you can take your child from home to the childcare provider
The childcare provider will receive payments directly from Care to Learn. Any funding to help with travel costs will be paid directly to the learning or training provider regularly, and they will reimburse you.
For further information about the support available and application process, call the Learner Support Service on 0800 121 8989 or visit www.direct.gov.uk
The Free Childcare for Training and Learning for Work
The Free Childcare for Training and Learning for Work scheme is aimed at out-of-work parents with a partner who is in work. If you are aged 20 or over and looking to do a course that is classed as developing new skills that could lead to a job you may be eligible for help with childcare costs through this scheme. Parents who qualify could receive up to £175 per child per week (£215 in London) to pay for childcare whilst they undertake training or learning.
To qualify you must be:
- aged 20 or over;
- be out of work
- have one or more children under 14, or under 18 if the child is disabled
- have a partner who is working;
- have a household income of £20,000 or less; and
- be using registered childcare.
For further information about the support available and application process, call the Learner Support Service on 0800 121 8989 or go to www.direct.gov.uk
Sixth Form College Childcare Scheme
If you are a parent aged 20 or over and are studying full or part time at a school sixth form or sixth form college you may be able to get help with your childcare costs.
Funding under this scheme is worth up to £160 per child per week (up to £175 in London) and can help to pay fees to a registered childcare provider and will also help towards the cost of travel to get to and from your childcare provider.
To qualify you must be resident in England and be the main carer for a child aged 15 or under (16 if the child is disabled). You must not be receiving any other support for the cost of your childcare and travel. Funding from this scheme will be based on your household income.
For further information call the Learner Support helpline on 0800 121 8989 or visit www.direct.gov.uk
Discretionary Learner Support Fund (including Discretionary Childcare 20+)
If you are aged 20 or over and are attending a further education college, the Discretionary Learner Support Fund may be able to help you with a variety of costs, including childcare.
The amount of funding available will vary as each college manages their own procedures and criteria for administration of the fund.
You can apply for the Learner Support Fund at your college by speaking to the student support or welfare officer.
Tax Credits
Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit from the Inland Revenue may be available to students with dependent children. For more information, visit http://taxcredits.hmrc.gov.uk/Qualify/WhatAreTaxCredits.aspx
